Teva launches generic version of Astellas’ Adenoscan

JERUSALEM — Teva Pharmaceutical Industries has become the first to launch a generic drug for treating certain heart patients, the company said.

Teva announced the launch of adenosine injection, a generic version of Astellas Pharma’s Adenoscan. The drug is used in combination with thallium-201 in patients undergoing myocardial perfusion scintigraphy who are unable to exercise adequately.

Adenoscan had sales of $65 million during the 12-month period ended in June, according to IMS Health. As the first company to file for approval of the generic, Teva has 180 days in which to market the generic exclusively, according to Food and Drug Administration regulations.

Cancer organizations see big uptick in health insurance marketplace usage by decade’s end

WASHINGTON — Next year, 7 million people will be using health insurance marketplaces, and that figure will nearly quadruple in five years, according to a coalition of cancer-focused organizations.

Patient Services Inc., which includes 18 partnering cancer and patient advocacy organizations, announced Wednesday the launch of the Cancer Insurance Checklist, designed to help people with cancer, a history of the disease or those at risk of getting it, choose insurance plans in the state-based health insurance marketplaces, which will open on Oct. 1.

According to PSI, by the end of the decade, 27 million people will be in health insurance marketplaces, and PSI said the checklist would empower thousands of people whose lives have been influenced by cancer amid the implementation of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. The checklist guides consumers to review the coverage within each insurance plan they are considering, including coverage for services provided by their healthcare team, where care is delivered, medications and various common cancer treatments and services they may need.

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Mylan seeks approval for generic fibromyalgia drug

PITTSBURGH — Mylan is challenging the patent protection on a drug used to treat fibromyalgia, prompting a lawsuit from the branded drug’s manufacturers.

Mylan said Wednesday that Forest Labs and Royalty Pharma had sued it in the U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware in connection with its filing of a regulatory approval application with the Food and Drug Administration for milnacipran hydrochloride tablets in the 12.5-mg, 25-mg, 50-mg and 100-mg strengths. The drug is a generic version of Savella.

If Mylan is the first company to successfully file an approval application with the FDA for a generic version of Savella, it will receive 180 days of market exclusivity in which to compete directly with Forest following FDA approval.

Savella had sales of about $123 million during the 12-month period ended in June, according to IMS Health.

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RELATED NEWS

The Food and Drug Administration has approved a generic of Hoffman-La Roche’s Tamiflu (oseltamivir phosphate) capsules from Lupin. The company’s generic will be available in 30-, 45- and 75-mg dosage strengths.
The product is inficated to treat acute, uncomplicated influenza A and B in patients 2 weeks of age and older, as well as to prevent influenza A and B in patients 1 year old and older. The drug had U.S. sales of roughly $467.8 million for the 12 months ended October 2017, according to IQVIA data.

Behavioral health pharmacy and telepsychiatry company Genoa, a QoL Healthcare Company, has reached a big number with its remote psychiatry offering. The Tukwila, Wash.-based company announced Tuesday that it had facilitated more than 100,000 telepsych consultations on its video conferencing platform.
Genoa attributes the milestone to its recent buildup of its telepsychiatry operations, which grew to include 35 in 2017 from 20 at the start of the year, and included 250 providers. In 2017, the company grew to serve more than 2,500 patients per week.

This year's flu continues to be Texas big, according to the Walgreens Flu Index released Wednesday, as the top 10 communities experiencing the greatest amount of flu incidence were all located in the Lone Star State for the week ended Jan. 6.
Iowa, Idaho and Arkansas rank behind Texas in terms of flu activity. And Montana, Idaho and Iowa ranked highest among states experiencing flu activity gains.

Amneal Biosciences has launched its generic of Otsuka’s Busulfex (busulfan injection, 6 mg/ml). The product is indicated to treat chronic myelogenous leukemia.
Amneal said that its generic is available in cartons of eight single-dose vials, each of which contains 60 mg of the drug in a 10-ml clear sterile solution. The product is made without natural rubber, latex, gluten or preservatives, Amneal said.
The drug had U.S. sales of roughly $80 million for the 12 months ended October 2017, according to data from IQVIA.

Amneal Pharmaceuticals has launched sevelamer carbonate tablets, 800 mg, in 270-count bottles. This generic from the Bridgewater, N.J.-based company is an AB-rated therapeutic equivalent to Renvela.
Amneal also launched five other products in addition to sevelamer carbonate:

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